OCCURENCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 IN ESTONIAN DAIRY FARMS AND BEEF PRODUCTION CHAIN IN 2005–2014Toomas Kramarenko1,2, Kadrin Meremäe1, Jelena Sõgel3, Maiu Kuningas2, Annika Vilem2, Liidia Häkkinen2, Mihkel Mäesaar2, Terje Elias1, Mati Roasto11Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 56/3, 51014 Tartu, Estonia2Estonian Veterinary and Food Laboratory, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 30, 51006 Tartu, Estonia3The Veterinary and Food Board, Väike-Paala 3, 11415 Tallinn, EstoniaEscherichia coli O157:H7 human infections are mostly associated with consumption of raw or undercooked beef and raw milk. Ruminants, especially cattle are the main reservoir of the pathogen. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of E. coli O157:H7 in cattle dairy farm and beef production level in Estonia. It was found that E. coli O157:H7 is present at both the dairy farm and slaughterhouse level. The occurrence of the pathogen at Estonian dairy farm level was 1.2% from 1312 cattle's sampled. At slaughterhouse level 744 hide swabs were taken from which 30 (4.0%) were positive to E. coli O157:H7. Both stx1 and stx2 genes were determined from isolates and often the combination of both genes was found to be present. Minimal inhibitory concentration was determined for 30 E. coli O157:H7 isolates which revealed 26.7% of multiresistant isolates. In 2009–2010 in a total of 188 beef samples were analysed, which all were negative for O157:H7.Keywords: Escherichia coli O157: H7, cattle, STEC serogroups, virulence markers, drug resistance.Source: Agraarteadus, 2018, 29(2):In Pressdoi: https://dx.doi.org/10.15159/jas.18.09

REVIEW: PSEUDOPODZOLIC SOILS IN ESTONIAN SOIL COVERRaimo Kõlli1, Tõnu Tõnutare1, Tarmo Kõlli21Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Chair of Soil Science, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006 Tartu, Estonia 2Viru Õlu Ltd Haljala, Rakvere Road 7, 45301 Haljala, West-Viru County, EstoniaIn actual review, the main morphological properties of the Pseudopodzolic soils and the principles of their dividing into soil species (identified by soil genesis) and varieties (divided on the basis of soil texture) are treated. The compiling of actual review is caused by the fact that Pseudopodzolic soil was elected by the Estonian Soil Science Society for the Estonian year 2018 soil. In the introductory part, the special attention is paid to the problems connected with the naming of these soils. Although the soil introducing is done after Estonian Soil Classification principles, for characterization of soil properties and functioning the qualifiers of WRB are largely used in it. In the work, the two layers of soil (1) the soil humus cover (pro humus form) or humipedon and (2) soil cover or solum as a whole are treated separately. The data on soil properties are presented separately as well for arable and forest soils giving their comparative analysis and dealing with the changes in soil properties in connection with land use change. Substantial part of the work is consecrated (1) to the soil-plant cover and to the Enchytraeidae living in forest soils' humipedon, (2) to the soil productivity and peculiarities of their usage in agriculture and forestry, and (3) to the distribution of Pseudopodzolic soils in Estonian soil cover and to the association of Pseudopodzolic soils with other soil species. Source: Agraarteadus, 2018, 29(2):In Press doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.15159/jas.18.12

TECAMIN FLOWER® FOLIAR APPLICATION TO ALLEVIATE WATER DEFICIT EFFECTS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF TOMATO

In Press

TECAMIN FLOWER® FOLIAR APPLICATION TO ALLEVIATE WATER DEFICIT EFFECTS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF TOMATOAziz Mahdi Abd Al-Shammari1, Mohammed Ali Abood2, Ghassan Jaafar Hamdi11Department of Horticulture and Landscape, College of Agriculture, University of Diyala, Iraq2Department of Soil Science and Water Resources, College of Agriculture, University of Diyala, Iraq During drought chemical elements in a dry fertilizer go into solution in the soil with difficulty and the nutrients are less available to the plant. Foliar fertilization with Tecamin flower®, could compensate for nutrient deficiency due to water deficit. This study was designed to observe the effects of different application rates of foliar application of Tecamin flower® on growth, yield and field water use efficiency (CWUE) of tomato under water deficit. The field experiment was conducted from March till July 2016 at the teaching and research farm of Diyala University, Iraq. Performance of tomato genotype 'Bobcat', 'Finenss' and 'Hadeer' was assessed by foliar application of Tecamin flower® at (0 and 2.5 mL L-1) and two irrigation levels (50 and 100% based on field capacity). The results showed that chlorophyll content, fruit weight, yield per plant, total yield and CWUE were significantly affected by genotype and irrigations levels and application of Tecamin flower®. 'Bobcat' genotype has the highest value of plant yield (3.39 kg) and total yield (90.19 t ha-1). 'Finenss' has the highest values for number fruit per plant (40.75), CWUE (75.37 kg m-3) and the minimum leaf proline content (2.584 mg g-1). Plant irrigated at 100% had the highest value of number fruit (35.27 fruit), most yield per plant (3.53 kg), total yield (94.02 t ha-1) and minimum leaf proline content (2.557 mg g-1). The highest CWUE (84.50 kg m-3) were at 50% level. Plant treated at 2.5 mL L-1 Tecamin flower® had most fruit/plant (37.61) yield per plant (3.73 kg), total yield (99.16 t ha-1), CWUE (85.22 kg m-3) and minimum leaf proline content (2.437 mg g-1).Keywords: Solanum lycopersicum, genotype, Foliar application, Tecamin flower®, Water stress.Source: Agraarteadus, 2018, 29(2):In Pressdoi: https://dx.doi.org/10.15159/jas.18.10

1Department of Horticulture and Landscape, College of Agriculture, University of Diyala, Iraq2Department of Soil Science and Water Resources, College of Agriculture, University of Diyala, Iraq Email address protected by JavaScript. Please enable JavaScript to contact.

Highlights:

Foliar application of Tecamin flower® played a role in alleviating negative impact of water deficit, and improved plant growth, yield and CWUE.

Plant irrigated at 100% level had the largest number fruit per plant, yield per plant, total yield and minimum leaf proline content, compared with other treatment.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum from the Solanaceae family) is an important, popular and nutritious vegetable all over the world. It plays a vital role in providing a substantial quantity of vitamins C, A and lycopene in human diet, and is also an effective anti-oxidant exhibiting high quenching ability for singlet oxygen.